Last weekend at our family reunion – I was able to slip away with my 3 sisters-in-law and Jan’s mom to hit a couple garage sales and my favorite thrift store.
We left our very brave husbands home with all the kids – except one – Annie.
Annie to go because there was just one seat left in the van – and she was the only little one who wasn’ t muddy yet.
I’m not sure how excited she was to go an adventure with her aunts – but she was a good sport and soon learned that Auntie Melinda’s thrift stores are quite a bit different then the ones in the big city where she lives!
As soon as we walked into the Mission Possible Thrift Store Annie spotted the row of baby dolls perched right at her level on the shelves. She made a beeline for them exclaiming, “BABIES!”
Every lady in the shop stopped what they doing and said “Ohhh…how precious!”
From that moment on she had the run of the store.
She hugged baby dolls for awhile, then moved on to scarves. After she found a silky pink one and wrapped it around her neck, she moved on with Nana to the other side of the store where she discovered shoes.
Annie loves shoes. Really loves shoes. Especially shoes that are too big.
She was in her element!
She would try on a pair of shoes and parade around the clothes rack carrying a dolly and wearing her pretty pink scarf.
The other shoppers smiled.
Her favorite pairs were a pair of fuzzy red slippers and a metallic silver heel.
At one point I overheard her say to Nana,” I think you should buy these pretty shoes Nana.”
Nana replied, “Oh my, those are very pretty Annie, but I just don’t have any metallic silver dresses to wear them with.” 
Nana did however buy the fuzzy red slippers and Auntie Melinda bought her the pretty pink scarf.
So she left the store with a few treasures of her own and several new admirers.
She and I sat on the courthouse steps across the street eating pretzels while the other gals finished up.
When they joined us in a few minutes they were exclaiming about the great prices and their sweet finds.
I just smiled and said, “You just can’t beat a small town thrift store for great deals.”
And I’m sure Annie would add, “And lots of fun!”
